March 8–14, 2026 | Sydney – Hunter Valley – Newcastle
Register now until February 10, 2026
Registration options - see below! or HERE
Actively shape international structural change!
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is organizing a delegation trip of companies and organizations from the Lusatian region to Australia in cooperation with the IHK Cottbus, the MinGenTec network, the WFBB, and the WFS. The aim is to strengthen knowledge transfer between Germany and Australia and to initiate new collaborations in the fields of economy, industry, and applied research for the transformation of regions affected by the coal phase-out in Germany.
Why Australia?
Australia is facing a massive structural change: By 2040, nearly 240 mines are expected to close. The annual costs for rehabilitation and recultivation are estimated at four to eight billion AUD. This profound transformation also offers opportunities for new technologies and sustainable solutions. Germany has decades of transformation experience in structural change regions, such as mine rehabilitation in the German coal regions, and develops relevant future and key technologies for climate-neutral energy, mobility, and health economy. This expertise is in demand internationally and is to be exchanged through the delegation trip.
Goals of the trip:
- Exchange of experiences on structural change and innovation
- Building networks between companies, research, and politics
- Business initiation and collaborations
- Location marketing for the Lusatian region
Thematic focuses:
- Mine rehabilitation and recultivation
- Health economy and digital solutions
- Climate-neutral energy generation (e.g., hydrogen technologies)
- Smart mobility solutions
Program highlights:
- Symposium “Smart Solutions in Transformation Economies” in Sydney: Expert dialogue and B2B discussions with Australian stakeholders
- Excursion to the Hunter Valley: Visit to mining and recultivation projects, company visits
- Participation in the specialist conference “HUNTER AGENDA 26” in Newcastle: International experts discuss best practice examples for structural change
Travel dates:
March 8–14, 2026 (Sydney – Hunter Valley – Newcastle)
Participation conditions:
Participation is intended for German companies, research institutions, and organizations from the Lusatia and Rhineland regions.
Registration deadline: February 10, 2026
Costs: Participation is free of charge. Travel and accommodation costs are to be borne by participants. A budget between 2,500 euros and 3,500 euros is expected to cover the personal contribution.
